Cow talk

MBE surprise for industry stalwart

RABDF vice chair Di Wastenage has been awarded an MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours list for her services to the UK dairy industry. In her role at RABDF, Mrs Wastenage, who is also a director of her family’s Devon-based dairy business, has contributed on a wide range of topics including the environment, animal health and welfare. She also works hard to encourage young entrepreneurs and new entrants into agriculture. Mrs Wastenage was involved in creating the ambitious targets for reducing antibiotic usage within the dairy sector. An ambassador for women in farming, particularly through her role as patron of Women in Dairy, she showcases the importance of female roles and the exciting opportunities there are for women in the sector. And she was delighted about her award: “I am proud to be representing the farming sector, both locally and nationally, particularly during these challenging and dynamic times. Receiving this honour has come as a complete surprise and ensured that a tough year finished on a positive note.”

Risk-sharing service for growers

Maize growers are being o ered a 50% discount towards the cost of re-sowing any crops damaged by bird predation or frost in the 2021 sowing season, following the launch of a service by KWS. This underlines its confidence in its birdrepelling seed treatment – Initio Bird Protect (IBP) – and o ers growers and producers a risk-sharing opportunity. “The seed treatment will be used across the majority of KWS maize seed varieties,” says the company’s John Burgess, adding that it was developed following the withdrawal of approval for the seed treatment, Mesurol, which acted as a bird deterrent. “I believe that sowing untreated maize seed is not an option, because the risk of bird damage is too great. An e ective seed treatment represents an insurance policy to secure crop yields.” He adds that the company had no reports of bird damage in its seed varieties where IBP treatment was used in 2020. “Our maize seed service for re-sowing has been launched to back up our claim that the product will deter birds. “Modern maize varieties are also extremely vigorous and have a much greater degree of frost tolerance compared with varieties that were available even a few years ago,” says Mr Burgess. “We hope that it will not be necessary for growers to apply for the 50% discount in 2021, as a result of frost damage.” The service can be used until June 30, 2021, and users must be registered on the free myKWS system, which provides supportive materials and useful online tools for maize growers.

Plan ahead for better silage

Producers looking to make better silage in 2021, and reduce their reliance on bought-in feeds, should start planning now. So says Volac’s Ken Stroud, who is o ering timely tips in a five-point plan. “Begin by reviewing the analysis of your 2020 silage. What are the areas for improvement?” he asks. If ME is low, swards may have deteriorated to include less nutritious grasses, making some reseeding necessary. “Alternatively, the way silage is made may need attention. This could mean cutting grass younger, while it’s more digestible; wilting faster, to minimise in-field energy losses; or improving fermentation, so energy is conserved better in the clamp,” he says. Good communication with the contractor is also key. “Grass must be cut at its nutritional peak – not a week or two later. So understand your contractor’s time constraints and inform them of yours,” says Mr Stroud. Producers should also prepare the clamp – the ‘storage container’ for silage – for at least half a year. “Don’t let clamp condition undo all the hard work put into other areas of silage-making.” And producers should also have silage making materials ready. “Avoid compromising silage quality or quantity by failing to have all the necessary materials for a good preservation. Start by ensuring you have enough of the correct additive,” he adds. Finally, he says that all producers should have a ‘plan b’ – just in case something changes. “The weather, for example, can be notoriously fickle. If it’s wet, be prepared to set the harvester to chop grass longer to stop clamp slippage. If it’s dry, you may need to chop shorter so the grass is easier to compact. “And also have a plan for if it looks like you’ll be short of silage,” he adds. “This could include ensiling some cereal as wholecrop.”

Probiotic bedding treatment launched

A biological bedding treatment, which inoculates cubicles or loose housing with healthy bacteria to crowd out pathogens, will be launched at Dairy-Tech Online in February. Pre-launch users of EnviroSystems’ Cobiotex report drier beds and 20% average lower straw use, as well as reduced somatic cell counts and fewer lameness cases. Developed in France, where it is now used across herds comprising 180,000 cows, the seven-strain bacterial formulation is carried in a hyperabsorbent powder. In cubicles, it is applied once a week to dehydrate the area of the bed underneath the udder and compete with pathogens for nutrients and living space. The formulation includes the only registered microbiological biocide in Europe. A monitored trial with father-and-son producers Andrew and Tom Pemberton, based in the North West, saw a 10% reduction in somatic cell counts from 100,000 cells/ml to 90,000 cells/ml. Another trial, with a Sta ordshire-based herd, recorded 70% fewer lameness cases requiring treatment. The cubicle building’s atmosphere was also noticeably fresher. EnviroSystems’ microbiologist Henry Russell reports that, probably due to fewer lame cows, average milk sales also rose by two litres a cow, worth more than £1,000 a month. Both trials involved a pre-treatment observation phase, then three-month treatment period during full-time housing. Microbiological analysis of bedding litter found significant changes in bacterial populations.

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